Electric Glen fest gets the green light for 2016

Gillian Loney

Electric Glen will return to Rouken Glen Park in 2016, East Renfrewshire Council has announced.

The event first ran in 2013, and in 2014 attracted an audience of 27,000 before taking a year off in 2015.

The lighting festival will run for eight nights in February 2016, with Phil Supple — responsible for the ceramic poppy installation at the Tower of London — stepping in as creative director.

Promising fire, light, original music and sound scores for the Rouken Glen spectacular, Phil commented: “I’m looking forward to bringing light and life to the dark winter months in one of the west of Scotland’s most beautiful parks.

“We’ll be building on the success of our original programme in 2013 and returning to light up the whole perimeter of the famous boating pond in technicolour.

“Electric Glen will celebrate the incredible design heritage and unique landscape of Rouken Glen using the talents of some of the nation’s finest artists.”

The creative director will team up with Derek Allan, of Allan Associates, and Phil O’Halloran from NL Productions, whose credits include The Enchanted Forest in Pitlochry.

East Renfrewshire Council estimates that the event generated a £403,000 economic impact regionally in its first year, and £1,190,400 regionally in 2014 as 15 local restaurants and two hotels took part.

Councillor Tony Buchanan, convener for infrastructure and sustainable growth, welcomed Electric Glen’s return for 2016, adding: “We are very excited to be working with such a highly respected and high profile team on the new event.

“This creative and extremely popular family event has sold out in previous years and with the winter 2016 festival promising to be bigger and better than ever we’re expecting a huge demand.

“Tickets will go on sale in October from Ticketmaster so if you want to make winter 2016 one to remember make sure you get yours.”